Sustainability

Sustainable tourism

Rooted in our corporate ethos of “Embracing the Environment, Empowering People’, Banyan Tree’s sustainability approach emphasises on building in harmony with nature and contributing to the growth and development of the community where each of our hotels are planted. To learn more about the comprehensive and encompassing initiatives of Banyan Tree Global Foundation, please click here.

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Sustainability Achievements

Angsana Maison Souvannaphoum is recognised by the local government, international organisations (GIZ, Asia Foundation, JICA) and travel agents (Exo Travel and Kiri Travel) for its sustainability initiatives. Actively working with Urban Development Office on waste management and environmental awareness, initiatives include taking the lead to clean up the city after special events such as Lao New Year, Boat Racing Festival and championing the monthly “Luang Prabang Clean Up” with more than 40 active participants each time.

EarthCheck Silver Certification

As the only EarthCheck Silver certified hotel in Laos since 2015, Angsana Maison Souvannaphoum is committed to reducing waste sent to landfills and its very own waste separation programme was able to reduce such waste by 50%. The property compost and sells its own waste, generating revenue to produce eco shopping bags for guests and at the same time reducing the reliance on single-use plastics.

Green Hotel Award

The ASEAN Green Hotel Award is given to hotels who are aligned with its standards on environmental management and energy conservation. Angsana Maison Souvannaphoum was given this award twice, once in 2012-2014 and again in 2014-2016.

ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Award

In 2018, Angsana Maison Souvannaphoum was certified as the leading partner for certification of ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Award presented to Phousi Mountain (the landmark and main touristic point in town) as the Best Sustainable Urban Tourism Product of Lao PDR under the theme Nature-based Tourism.

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Plastic-Free Banyan Tree

Angsana Maison Souvannaphoum is committed to Banyan Tree Group’s Plastic Free Campaign. Since signing the pledge on 22 April 2018, the hotel was able to reduce more than 75% of plastic usage by gradually eliminating plastic straws, bottles, bags, cotton buds, and wraps. Moving forward, the property will continue to monitor and minimize plastic usage.

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Resource Conservation

Banyan Tree’s efforts connect with the issue of global climate action by conserving resources through efficient operations, with external assurance by EarthCheck, the leading benchmarking certification within the travel and tourism industry.

Resource conservation is practiced every day in Angsana Maison Souvannaphoum’s hotel operations. Instead of using fresh water, the property collects rainwater to nourish its plants and herb garden. Contracted laundry vendors also practice a no-plastic bag policy.

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Greening Communities Together

Our aim is to restore the natural environment, whilst raising awareness of climate change through tree-planting events, around the area in which we operate, with a current target of 2,000 trees per year. In the first ten years we planted almost half a million trees, and we aim to plant 25,000 during our 25th anniversary year.

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SEEDLINGS

The Seedlings programme was created to nurture young people at risk of societal exclusion, providing vocational and life skills and education, and preparing them for life and work. Since 2015, Angsana Maison Souvannaphoum has taken in six students under the Seedlings programme. With half of the cohort graduating by 2019, the property looks forward to expanding its programme and nurturing more under-privileged youths in the future.

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Supporting Local Communities

Supporting long-term societal prosperity is central to Banyan Tree’s ability to create value for local communities and this is achieved by empowering them through job creation, education, supporting artisanal cooperatives, community impact initiatives, humanitarian relief and connecting travelers to local culture and heritage.

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Community Cleaning

We aim to organize a minimum of four cleaning activities each year, to engage members of the local community, our guests and our associates with the need for effective waste management and to promote responsible consumption of resources and maintaining a healthy environment.

In Luang Prabang, Angsana Maison Souvannaphoum is fondly nicknamed ‘Trash Idol’ as the property is an advocate of community clean-ups. Community cleanups are carried out at least once a month and on certain months, twice.

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Daily Alms Giving, a Luang Prabang Tradition

Accompanied by an Associate from Angsana Maison Souvannaphoum, hotel guests can participate in the daily alms giving and offer food to the monks in temples nearby. Young monks are often found in the procession, children sent to the monasteries as their families struggle in poverty. In the monasteries, young monks seek shelter, food, and education, empowering them to continue their studies in vocational schools or universities.

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Light Festival

The annual Light Festival takes place at the end of the Buddhist Lent Day in October. On this day, the charming town of Luang Prabang is warmly lit by countless candlelight. Apart from making beautiful lotus and star-shaped lanterns to offer to the temples, the property also encourages guest participation by holding special lantern and Krathong making classes. Krathong is a basket made out of banana leaves, beautifully decorated with flowers, and set to float on the mighty Mekong River.

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Run for the Children – Luang Prabang Half Marathon

Laos Friends Hospital is Luang Prabang’s local children hospital. Each year, the Luang Prabang Half Marathon is held to fund better care and quality treatments for children. Angsana Maison Souvannaphoum is situated along the marathon route and to show its support, the property facilitated a complimentary water station and selfie check-point. Last year, the property also raised environmental awareness by erecting an arch made of recycled plastic bottles and cans for participants to run under. The arch was later donated to a local school.